In the presented thesis work, the meshfree method with distance fields was coupled with the lattice Boltzmann method to obtain solutions of fluid-structure interaction problems. The thesis work involved development and implementation of numerical algorithms, data structure, and software. Numerical and computational properties of the coupling algorithm combining the meshfree method with distance fields and the lattice Boltzmann method were investigated. Convergence and accuracy of the methodology was validated by analytical solutions. The research was focused on fluid-structure interaction solutions in complex, mesh-resistant domains as both the lattice Boltzmann method and the meshfree method with distance fields are particularly adept in these situations. Furthermore, the fluid solution provided by the lattice Boltzmann method is massively scalable, allowing extensive use of cutting edge parallel computing resources to accelerate this phase of the solution process. The meshfree method with distance fields allows for exact satisfaction of boundary conditions making it possible to exactly capture the effects of the fluid field on the solid structure.

In this work, a pioneering application of the Solution Structure Method (SSM) for structural dynamics problems is presented. Vibration analysis is an important aspect of any design-analysis cycle for which reliable computational methods are required. Unlike many meshfree methods, SSM is capable of {\it exact treatment of all prescribed boundary conditions}. In addition, the method is capable of using basis functions which do not conform to the shape of the geometric model. Together, this defines an unprecedented geometric flexibility of the SSM. This work focused on the development of numerical algorithms for 2D in-plane and 3D natural vibration analysis and 2D in-plane dynamic response. The convergence and numerical properties of the method were evaluated by comparing meshfree results with those obtained using traditional Finite Element Analysis implemented in Solidworks and ANSYS. The numerical experiments presented in this work illustrate that the Solution Structure Method possesses good convergence and in some cases, such as geometries with partially fixed boundaries, this method converges much more rapidly than traditional FEA. Finally, in addition to complex boundary conditions, this method can easily handle complex geometries without losing favorable convergence properties.

Radial basis function (RBF) methods for partial differential equations (PDEs), either in bulk domains, on surfaces, or in a combination of the formers, arise in a wide range of practical applications. This thesis proposes numerical approaches of RBF-based meshless techniques to solve these three kinds of PDEs on stationary and nonstationary surfaces and domains. In Chapter 1, we introduce the background of RBF methods, some basic concepts, and error estimates for RBF interpolation. We then provide some preliminaries for manifolds, restricted RBFs on manifolds, and some convergence properties of RBF interpolation. Finally, implicit-explicit time stepping schemes are briefly presented. In Chapter 2, we propose methods to implement meshless collocation approaches intrinsically to solve elliptic PDEs on smooth, closed, connected, and complete Riemannian manifolds with arbitrary codimensions. Our methods are based on strong-form collocations with oversampling and least-squares minimizations, which can be implemented either analytically or approximately. By restricting global kernels to the manifold, our methods resemble their easy-to-implement domain-type analogies, that is, Kansa methods. Our main theoretical contribution is a robust convergence analysis under some standard smoothness assumptions for high-order convergence. We simulate reaction-diffusion equations to generate Turing patterns and solve shallow water problems on manifolds. In Chapter 3, we consider convective-diffusion problems that model surfactants or heat transport along moving surfaces. We propose two time-space algorithms by combining the methods of lines and kernel-based meshless collocation techniques intrinsic to surfaces. We use a low-order time discretization for fair comparison, and higher-order schemes in time are possible. The proposed methods can achieve second-order convergence. They use either analytic or approximated spatial discretization of the surface operators, which do not require regeneration of point clouds at each temporal iteration. Thus, they are alternatively applied to handle models on two types of evolving surfaces, which are defined as prescribed motions and governed by geometric evolution laws, respectively. We present numerical examples on various evolving surfaces for the performance of our algorithms and apply the approximated one to merging surfaces. In Chapter 4, a kernel-based meshless method is developed to solve coupled second-order elliptic PDEs in bulk domains and on surfaces, subject to Robin boundary conditions. It combines a least-squares kernel-based collocation method with a surface-type intrinsic approach. We can thus use each pair for discrete point sets, RBF kernels (globally and restrictedly), trial spaces, and some essential assumptions, to search for least-squares solutions in bulks and on surfaces, respectively. We first analyze error estimates for a domain-type Robin-boundary problem. Based on this analysis and the existing results for surface PDEs, we discuss the theoretical requirements for the Sobolev kernels used. We then select the orders of smoothness for the kernels in bulks and on surfaces. Finally, several numerical experiments are demonstrated to test the robustness of the coupled method in terms of accuracy and convergence rates under different settings.

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Bioinspiration and biomimetics are two increasingly important fields in applied science and mechanics that seek to imitate systems or processes in nature to design improved engineering devices. Here, we are inspired and motivated by microscale internal flow transport phenomena in insect tracheal networks, which are observed to be induced by the rhythmic tracheal wall contractions. These networks have been shown to mange fluid very efficiently compared to current state-of-the-art microfluidic devises. This dissertation presents two versions of a novel bioinspired pumping mechanism that is neither peristaltic nor belongs to impedance mismatch class of pumping mechanisms. The insect-inspired pumping models presented here are expected to function efficiently in the microscale flow regime in a simple channel/tube geometries or a complex network of channels. The first pumping approach shows the ability of inducing a unidirectional net flow by using an inelastic tube or channel with at least two moving contractions. The second pumping approach presents a new concept for directional pumping, namely ``selective pumping in a network.". The results presented here might help in mimicking features of physiological systems in insects and guide efforts to fabricate novel microfluidic devices with improved efficiency. In this study, both theoretical analysis and Stokeslets-meshfree computational methods are used to solve for the 2D and 3D viscous flow transport in several micro-geometries (tubes, channels and networks) with prescribed moving wall contractions. The derived theoretical analysis is based on both lubrication theory and quasi-steady approximations at low Reynolds numbers. The meshfree numerical method is based on the method of fundamental solutions (MFS) that uses a set of singularized force elements ``Stokeslets'' to induce the flow motions. Moreover, the passive particle tracking simulation approach in the Lagrangian frame of reference is also used to strengthen and support our pumping paradigm developed in this dissertation. / Ph. D.

In meshfree methods, partial differential equations are solved on an unstructured cloud of points distributed throughout the computational domain. In collocated meshfree methods, the differential operators are directly approximated at each grid point based on a local cloud of neighboring points. The set of neighboring nodes used to construct the local approximation is determined using a variable search radius. The variable search radius establishes an implicit nodal connectivity and hence a mesh is not required. As a result, meshfree methods have the potential flexibility to handle problem sets where the computational grid may undergo large deformations as well as where the grid may need to undergo adaptive refinement. In this work we develop the sharp interface formulation of the immersed boundary method for collocated meshfree approximations. We use the framework to implement three meshfree methods: General Finite Differences (GFD), Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics (SPH), and Moving Least Squares (MLS). We evaluate the numerical accuracy and convergence rate of these methods by solving the 2D Poisson equation. We demonstrate that GFD is computationally more efficient than MLS and show that its accuracy is superior to a popular corrected form of SPH and comparable to MLS. We then use GFD to solve several canonic steady state fluid flow problems on meshfree grids generated using uniform and variable radii Poisson disk algorithm.

Au cours de cette thèse, nous avons développé un outil numérique, basé sur une formulation intégrale en éléments de frontière, qui permet une analyse classique du comportement d'une fissure 3D soumise à des sollicitations mécaniques complexes. Cet outil industriel est destiné à être intégré dans un code de calcul à usage industriel. Dans le but d'appréhender l'impact de la microstructure sur le comportement en fissuration fragile, nous nous sommes intéressés aux modèles de comportement non local. Nous avons commencé par adopter le modèle de comportement élastique non local de Eringen, qui permet de décrire plus finement le comportement élastique au voisinage de la fissure en prenant en compte les interactions à longue distance au sein du matériau. Cette modélisation du comportement conduit, contrairement à l'approche classique, à un un champ de contrainte fini sur le front de la fissure et localement maximal en avant du front. Ces résultats montrent qu'il est possible de prévoir la stabilité et la direction de propagation de la fissure à l'aide d'un critère plus simple et plus naturel, basé sur les variations du champ de contrainte au voisinage du front de la fissure. La stratégie numérique adoptée permet de traiter indifféremment des cas de fissure en traction, compression, cisaillement ou sollicitation mixte. L'intérêt de l'approche non-locale étant clairement démontré, nous avons considéré la version améliorée du modèle de Eringen telle que proposée par Polizzotto. Cette modélisation est la plus appropriée pour les milieux finis et requiert une mise en oeuvre numérique particulière. Les bases d'une méthodologie numérique, initiée par R. Kouitat ont été établies. Cette méthode est fondée sur un couplage des éléments de frontière avec une méthode de collocation par points d'équations aux dérivées partielles. Les premiers résultats obtenus dans ce cadre sont très encourageants et montrent qu'il sera effectivement possible de traiter le phénomène irréversible de fissuration de la même façon que les problèmes de plasticité / In this thesis, we have developed a numerical tool, based on a classical boundary elements method, which allows a conventional analysis of a stationary crack in a 3D specimen under complex mechanical loading. In order to assess the impact of the microstructure on the brittle fracture, we were interested in non local models of behavior. First, we have adopted the non local elastic model due to Eringen. This refined constitutive equation allows to account for long range interactions in the description of the elastic behavior in the vicinity of the crack front. Unlike the traditional approach, this type of model leads to a finite stress field at the crack front. Moreover, the stress is locally maximal ahead of the front. These interesting results indicate that it is possible to predict the stability and direction of crack propagation in a simple and more naturel way by using stress based criteria. The implemented numerical strategy can handle cases of crack in tension or compression, under shear stress or mixed loadings. Having clearly highlighted the interest of non local models, we have adopted the improved version of Eringen elastic model as proposed by Polizzotto. This elastic model is applicable to finite domains and requires a specific numerical treatment. The basis of such a numerical strategy initiated by R. Kouitat has been established. The method couples the conventional boundary element method with local point interpolation of a strong form differential equation. Promising results are obtained and show that with such modeling of material behavior, it is possible to describe the irreversible process of fracturing in a similar way as plasticity